Dick Kesner,
Violin (1953-1959) Popular Violinist Played A
Stradivarius Violin
Dick Kesner was
a popular violinist on the Lawrence Welk Show from
1953 to 1959. Kesner was born
in Sioux City, Iowa in 1912 and began taking violin
lessons at the age of 10. Durin World War
II, Kesner served in the Army in the South Pacific
where he organized a band to entertain the troops in
between battles. After the War, Kesner attended the American Conservatory of
Music in Chicago before joining the Freddie Martin
band in 1948. In 1953, Kesner joined the Lawrence
Welk band.
Lawrence Welk was so enamored with
Kesner's violin virtuosity that he bought him a
Stradivarius. Kesner left the Welk Show in
1959 to record music and do more concert
performances. Kesner was replaced on the Welk Show
by Jimmy Getzoff.
Car Accident
In 1962
Kesner died unexpectedly in 1962 at the age of
49 from a heart attack suffered while he was
driving his car in Reseda, CA. He was survived
by his wife, Muriel and three daughters.